ARU announces ticket prices and on-sale dates for 2014 home international fixtures

- Qantas Wallabies, unbeaten in four Tests, welcome France to Australia for the first time in five years

- Children (4-16 years) can watch the Qantas Wallabies for as little as $19 in Melbourne, and $24 in Brisbane and Sydney

- Families (2 adults, 2 children) can watch the Qantas Wallabies play France for less than $25 a head

- Families (2 adults, 2 children) can watch the Qantas Wallabies play South Africa in Perth for less than $25 a head

- Family ticket prices for the Bledisloe Cup fixtures versus reigning Rugby World Cup holders New Zealand available from $200

Australian Rugby Union has announced ticket pricing and on-sale dates for all seven Qantas Wallabies home international fixtures in 2014, with a host of special deals available for families (two adults, two children) to see the world’s best players in action.

Ewen McKenzie’s re-energised side –on a run of four successive Test victories – will kick-off the international season in June by hosting France for the first time since 2009. Despite having the edge in the overall head-to-head, Australia was defeated by an exhilarating France outfit the last time the sides met in Paris in late 2012.

The 2014 Castrol EDGE France Tour starts at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, 7 June, before playing at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday, 14 June. The third and final Test takes place on Saturday, 21 June at Allianz Stadium in Sydney in a family-friendly afternoon match.

Ticket prices for the three Tests go on sale to the public from 9am, Tuesday 6 May 2014, and range from $24 to $119 in Brisbane (from $98 for families), $19 to $99 in Melbourne (from $78 for families) and $24 to $139 in Sydney (from $98 for families).

Qantas Wallabies Head Coach Ewen McKenzie coached Stade Français between 2008-09 and is looking forward to leading his country into battle against France for the first time as national coach.

“We’ve got a real opportunity to push on from our successful end of the Spring Tour. It will be the first opportunity for our fans to see the Qantas Wallabies in action for the year and we’ll be determined to continue on from where we left off,” said McKenzie.

“We’ll never shy away from the fact that we want to be world class and in 2014 we’ll be taking on seven of the top nine ranked teams in the world, beginning with France.

“There is no doubt they are a quality team and their unique brand of rugby will also excite fans across the country. You never really know what you are going to get with the French – and that will only add to the excitement of the series.

Meanwhile, tickets for the 2014 Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship, as well as the third Bledisloe Cup fixture, will go on sale to the public from 9am, Tuesday 24 June.

ANZ Stadium in Sydney will be buzzing as the Qantas Wallabies look to take the first steps towards ending New Zealand’s eleven-year hold on the Bledisloe Cup in the opening match of the 2014 Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship.

The game, on Saturday 16 August, will pit arguably the two most entertaining back-lines in world Rugby against one another in what is likely to be a blockbuster.

South Africa will make the trip to Western Australia on Saturday 6 September when they play the Qantas Wallabies at Patersons Stadium in Perth. The home side will be looking for revenge after losing both fixtures to a strong Springboks side last year.

A week later, two proud Rugby nations will go toe-to-toe on the Gold Coast. Australia will put its 17-year unbeaten record against Argentina on the line at Cbus Super Stadium hoping to end its home campaign in the 2014 Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship on a high.

The scene will be set for an explosive end to the home international season. Will Saturday, 18 October 2014 be the day that the Qantas Wallabies finally regain the Bledisloe Cup from Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand? The game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane against the All Blacks will see Australia looking to lift the famous trophy for the first time in more than a decade.

Tickets for the first game against New Zealand at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium range from $44 to $179 (from $200 for families), while prices for the clash between the Qantas Wallabies and South Africa at Patersons Stadium in Perth range from $24 to $119 (from $98 for families). Prices for the Argentina game at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast range between $24 to $69 (from $88 for families) and tickets for the final 2014 Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Brisbane will be on sale from $44 to $199 (from $200 for families).

Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver is eagerly awaiting the variety of styles that each team will bring to Australia this winter.

“Rugby fans will have a brilliant opportunity to witness some of the finest talent the world has to offer this year. Each side will bring their own characteristics and qualities which should make for some incredibly entertaining Tests.

“Ewen McKenzie is building a side that we feel will be capable of winning next year’s Rugby World Cup in England, and we want as many Australian Rugby fans as possible to come on the journey with us throughout 2014.”

Tickets for the 2014 Gold Coast Sevens tournament will also go on sale at the same time as The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship on 24 June 2014, with ticket prices ranging from $35 (General Admission Concessions) to $130 (Reserved Adult) via Ticketek. Fans will be able to purchase their tickets to this adrenaline-charged tournament in a special offer only available to customers who purchase their tickets to the Argentina Test match at the same time. More details will be available closer to the ticket on-sale date.